We’ve all heard a lot about social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19, and most of us get the gist of what that means.

But it’s still confusing to figure out which activities are OK, and which ones aren’t, especially since different experts and authorities in different places are giving different advice, and it seems to change by the day.

For example, do you really have to stay home and avoid all your friends and family or can you go outside to do things like hiking and cycling?

Here’s what you need to know.

How to do social distancing, in a nutshell.

Social distancing involves:

Interacting with as few people as possible.
Trying to avoid getting too close (nearer than one to two metres) when we do.

The province of Manitoba also recommends minimizing any contact with others that’s more than 10 minutes in public.

Kate Mulligan, assistant professor at the Dalla Lana school of public health at the University of Toronto, emphasizes that social distancing refers to physically distancing yourself from other people, and that staying in touch with others at this time is actually vital.

How social distancing can prevent the spread of COVID-19

Social distancing measures like working from home, school closures and cancelling sporting events could lead to a drop of new infections of coronavirus. 1:54

Everyone should do social distancing, but not everyone needs to self-isolate.

Mulligan describes social distancing as a “civic responsibility” that’s for everybody.

But there are a huge range of social distancing measures, and not everyone needs to go to the extremes.

Self-isolation is the strictest form of social distancing where people can’t leave home even for groceries (they need to be delivered). People are being asked to self-isolate if they have:

Cold or flu symptoms.

Have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Have just returned to Canada from another country.

Have been in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with the illness.

More severe measures may also be advised for people at higher risk, such as seniors and people with chronic health conditions.

Pat McCauley gathers groceries and other items left on her porch by her daughter, Cheri Chandler, right, at her home on March 6, 2020, in Kirkland, Wash. Pat and her husband, Bob, were self-quarantined in their home. (Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press)

However, healthy people can still continue to do essential things like going to work, taking public transit and grocery shopping.

For those who aren’t self-isolating, Mulligan thinks that shouldn’t be taken literally.

“I think what they mean by staying home is not to go have social interactions with people,” she said. “Yes, you should be going outside.”

Suzanne Howitt, in green, and her hiking partner make their way up the Grouse Grind in Vancouver shortly after it opened on May 3, 2019. (Gian-Paolo Mendoza/CBC)

The City of Ottawa puts it this way: “You can still go outside to take a walk, go to the park or walk your dog. If you need groceries, go to the store. We simply recommend that while outside you make sure to avoid crowds and maintain a distance of one-two metres (three-six feet) from those around you. ”

In fact, the Government of Australia recommends being outside as a way of social distancing — for example, by holding meetings or eating your lunch outside instead of in your office.

Why is there so much variation in government social distancing measures?

Mulligan admitted the mixed messages can be “confusing and irritating” for the public.

Dr. Stephen Hoption Cann, an epidemiologist and clinical professor at the school of population and public health at the University of British Columbia, said governments are following what’s been successful in other countries and trying to balance those changing recommendations with the economic implications of very strict measures. “There’s going to be some businesses that won’t survive,” he said.

He thinks some provinces may feel pressure to tighten restrictions because of their neighbours.”You don’t want to have the numbers of infected take off and people say: ‘Why weren’t you doing this when all the other jurisdictions were?'”

Mulligan thinks federal messaging on social distancing has been quite strict. “The provinces are slowly catching up to that,” she said. “They seem to be waiting for science to demonstrate community transmission [people catching it at home, not abroad].” But she said unless lots of people are tested, that’s often not detected until long after it happens.

How much should healthy people be limiting their own social interactions?

Obviously, people need to follow government rules and regulations.

Beyond that, it comes down to the individual, said Hoption Cann.

“That’s your choice,” he said. “You try and do as much as you can to prevent the further spread.”

However, he said if you can avoid even smaller gatherings, such as meetings or playdates, it’s a good thing to do.

Kids take a ride on their bikes in Toronto. (Shawn Goldberg/Shutterstock)

Mulligan, who works with community health centres and said she is worried about maintaining services for the marginalized, takes a stronger stance.

“My advice to people is take this as literally and serious and strictly as you can reasonably in your life and avoid those contacts that are not essential.”

What kinds of social interactions can we have, then?

Most experts, including both Hoption Cann and Mulligan, recommend outdoor activities such as walking in residential areas, hiking or going to less busy parks.

An NHS sign points towards a Coronavirus testing pod, as an ambulance arrives at the A&E Department of Kings College Hospital in Camberwell, south London, on 11th March 2020, in London, England. (Photo by Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images)

The United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) has asked 65,000 nurses and doctors who retired in the last three years to return and help tackle the “greatest global health threat” in a century.

Medical personnel with up-to-date skills and experience, including retirees, will be surveyed on what type of role they could do. Those who join the “NHS army” will be given a full induction and online training to help them to hit the ground running, said the NHS in a statement released Thursday.

“As the health service gears up to deal with the greatest global health threat in its history, my message to former colleagues is ‘Your NHS Needs You,’” said Ruth May, chief nursing officer for England.

Final-year medical students and student nurses are also being offered the chance to take temporary roles on full pay to boost frontline capacity even further, the agency said.

Similar measures are being implemented in other European countries as thousands of medical students are being fast-tracked into early service in an attempt to boost health systems across the continent that are struggling to cope with the coronavirus outbreak.

OSAKA, JAPAN – JUNE 28: World leaders attend a family photo session at G20 summit on June 28, 2019 in Osaka, Japan. (Photo by Kim Kyung-Hoon – Pool/Getty Images)

Russia is in favor of convening a virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit on coronavirus next week, which would be “meaningful” for coordinating an international response to the pandemic, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

“The technical parameters are being worked through diplomatic channels, the organization of video communications,” Peskov said in a conference call with reporters. “This will be our first experience doing this.”

Russia has had a relatively low number of reported coronavirus cases, with 199 confirmed, according to the country’s coronavirus response headquarters.

Peskov downplayed reports in local media about shortages of masks and other equipment, saying there was enough protective equipment “for those who work with patients … serve the population … take tests … [and] for those who meet passengers of aircraft and other vehicles arriving from dangerous countries.”

The Kremlin spokesperson added there was “no need” for Russian President Vladimir Putin to take a coronavirus test, as he was feeling healthy and has continued his work.

“We are all in the same boat” when it comes to efforts by Russian and international scientists to work toward developing a vaccine, Peskov added.

A staff member of the corona test center at the hospital facilities Ludwigsburg carries a transport container for tests on the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 , which can cause COVID-19, in Ludwigsburg, southern Germany, on March 14, 2020. (Photo by THOMAS KIENZLE / AFP) (Photo by THOMAS KIENZLE/AFP via Getty Images)

The number of coronavirus cases in Germany jumped by 2,958 in the last 24 hours to a total of 13,957, the head of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Germany’s federal public health agency, said Friday.

There have been 31 total deaths as a result of coronavirus, with 11 fatalities in the last 24 hours, said RKI chief Lothar Wieler at a press conference in Berlin.

”We will see more fatalities over the next few weeks — including here in Germany,” Wieler said.

The head of the RKI also warned about hospital capacity in the country.

“More people will get infected; more people will be admitted to the emergency room and more people will require respiratory aid and therefore we have to fear that there will not be enough ventilator places,” Wieler said.

Germany is only at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, Wieler warned. He urged people to keep their distance to fight the pandemic, but said it is up to local authorities to decide on specific measures designed to achieve that.

He went on to issue a stark warning.

“If there are still people in our country who don’t believe this, who don’t believe me, who think that this is panic making, then I can only call upon them to finally open their eyes to this reality,” he said.

“If everyone sticks to what is set, we can slow down this epidemic by the maximum possible.”

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